System for constructing pipe



May 23, 1933. T. DELA MARE SYSTEM FOR CONSTRCTING PIPE Filed May 1s,1929 PatentedV May 23, 1933 'rHoMAs DE LA MARE, oF sAL'r' LAKE CITY,UTAH rSZ'SIIEIlII FOR CONSTRUCTING PIPE Application led May 13, 1929.Serial No. 362,607.

This invention relates to asystem for constructing pipe of concrete or.other plastic material, and more especially the non-corrod- I iblecomposite pipe described in my pending application for U. S. patent,Serial No. 255,- 676, though it is not knecessarily limited thereto. Theprincipal objects of the invention are: w

F'rstf-To produce a pipe of high quality 19 for conducting liquids orgases. v

Sec ma`.-AV pipe which shall be strong and durable.

Thrcl-0ne that can be produced at\ a v comparatively low cost.

Fourth-A system by the use of which the pipe, may be expeditiouslyproduced in the field.

Heretofore it has not been possible'to construct a reinforced concretepipe of good 211' quality in the field. As a consequence, all

high grade reinforced concrete pipe has been manufactured at s omedefinite factory point, and shipped to the j ob in sections ofconvenient length.

Concrete pipe is naturally of considerable weight, s'o transportationcharges from the factory to the job are necessarily high.

A pipe line built of pre-formed sections Y must necessarily have thesesections joined 3U to one another in the field long after the sectionsthemselves vhave been manufactured, which results inA less perfectjoints than where both sections and joints' are built at practi-` callythe samel time.'

The transportation rate on the raw nmaterial for forming the pipe inthe-fieldis considerably less than the rate on the finished pipe, andmoreover, the actual ycost of transportation of the raw material to theiield site 40 is often no greaterthan to ship the same raw material tothe factory. This results in a clear-saving of transportation charges onthe finished product vThe present invention Ahas to do particularlyvwith the construction of the composite pipe for which I havemade'application for U. S. patent filed Feb. 20, 1928, Serial No. 255,676, although not restricted thereto.

The composite pipe described in said application for patent consists ofa lining of up to standard proportions, does not in any non-corrodiblematerial such as vitrified sew- Y er pipe or glass, around which isbuilta reinforced shell or jacket ofconcrete or like material, appliedin a plastic state to the outside of the lining. 55

Heretofore it has been impossible to successfully surround'the liningwith a jacket of plastic concrete in the trench, owing to the diflicultyof placing the concrete in the tunnel under the lining. The stiffness ofa proper mix of the plastic concrete prevents the concrete fromcompletely lling the space under the lining.y Especially is this thecase when steel reinforcing in the form of rods and netting around thelining, is used.

In my improved system, after the lining is properly placed in the trenchand surrounded by the steel reinforcing, plastic concrete in the form ofwhat is termed as a sloppy mix, that is tosay, a mixture containing anexcess of water, is poured into the trench and is readily made to fillthe space in thetrench below the lining. This complete filling isaccomplished in the final degree by poking with light rods through theinterstices of the reinforcing, and at the same time adding suiiicientcement to the previously poured sloppy mix, so as to bring theproportion of cement up to the standard mixture required.

Contrary to usually accepted notions of many-engineers, I have foundthat pouring a sloppy mix, and immediately adding cement in sufficientquantities to bring the mix way impair the quality or strength of the 5resulting finished product.

The features of this invention, for which the protection of LettersPatent of the United States is desired, are collectively grouped in theclaims concluding this specification.

In the drawing, which illustrates one type of apparatus used in thepractice of my improved system.

Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal vertical 9,. center section showing thepipe in various stages of construction;

Fig. 2, a cross-,section on line 2, Fig'. 1, showing what may be calledthe skeleton;

Fig. 3, the same as Fig. 2, with the exception that a cylinder of wiremesh reinforcing has been added and placed in a preliminary position; y

Fig. 4, a cross-section on line 4, Fig. l, showing the wire meshcylinder in its proper position;

Fig. 5, the saine as Fig. 4;, with the exception that plastic concretein the nature of a sloppy mix is represented. as having been poured;

Fig. 6, the same after having added cement in the required proportionsto the sloppy mix; and Y I Fig. 7, a section showing the finished pipebefore removal of the forms, the section being taken on line 7, Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing, the first step in the constructionl of thepipe, is to assemblea skeleton length. Such a skeleton length mayconsist of a plurality of pieces of vitriiied clay or glass pipe,designated by numerals -3, 20-4, 20-5 and 20-6 in Fig. l, these lengthsbeing coupled to one another by means of the metallic sleeves 2l. Thesleeves 21 have the lugs 24, which carry the longitudinal reinforcingrods 25. Around the rods 25 may be wrapped transverse reinforcing 27,consisting of heavy wire or light rods, as fully shown and explained inpreviously mentioned application lfor Il. S. patent, Serial No. 255,676.Skeleton lengths of pipe thus constituted, may be assembled anddistributed along the trench in which-the finished pipe is to rest. i

After the trench is dug, forms are provided consisting preferably oflongitudinal boards and 6l, held angularly together by straps 62 ofhinges 63, the hinges being spaced apart longitudinally. Other boards 64and 65 may be similarly held by the other angular straps 67 of thehinges. The forms, including two such groups of boards, are placed inthe trench as shown in Fig. 2, and if the soil in which the trench isdug, has not naturally a sand or gravel bottom, then a layer 68 of sandor gravel may be spread in the bottom of the trench to the depth. of,say, about two inches.

I-Ialf annular collar boards 69 support both ends of the skeleton lengthof the form boards, the collars being placed between the two groups oflongitudinal boards, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the skeleton pipe laidin the collars.

The metal netting reinforcing 70 is now placed around the pipe skeletonin the manner about to be explained. The netting comes in rolls andtherefore is curved so that pieces cut from the roll naturally formcylinders. Each piece of netting is brought around the skeleton, and itscut ends, forming fingers, are brought together so as to interlock, asindicated at 7l, Fig. 3. It is convenient to interlock and tie thenetting in approximately the posit-ion shown in Fig. 3. Afterinterlocking and fastening the netting in the form of a cylinder, it isrotated through approximately a half turn, until the interlocked endsrest on the bottom of the trench. The projecting lingers of the nettingare of suc-h dimensions as to support the netting cylinders in aproperly spaced annular position with reference to the skeleton.Everything is now ready for pouring the concrete.

The pouring is done by making a sloppy mix and pouring it toapproximately the depth indicated in Fig. 5. Immediately after thesloppy mix is poured, ramming rods may be introduced through theinterstices of the wire netting 70, as indicated by the dotted lines 72,the rods being poked down into the sloppy mix so as to force the latterWell under and around the lining, to thoroughly lill all voids. At thesame time, a mixture of cement and preferably sharp plastering sand inthe proportion of about one part cement to one and one-half parts sand,is added to the sloppy mix, and the poking continued until finally a.well balanced concrete of the desired consistency is reached. The upperparts of the molds are then swung into place and concrete of the usualstandardmix is poured, resulting in the finished pipe, as indicated inFig. 7.

By the term sloppy mix I means a mixture of plastic concrete having anexcessive Water-ratio. The excessive water-ratio is reduced afterpouring the excessive water-ratio mixture, by bringing the Water-ratiodown to substantially a predetermined normal figure.

While I have shown and described a specific instance of the practicaluse of this invention, it is to be understood that various modificationslcould be made in the Vsystem apparatus Without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is: i

l. In a system for'constructing pipe, consisting in placing a core,pouring sloppy concrete under said core and part way up the sidesthereof, adding cement and sand to said sloppy mix until the consistencythereof is brought substantially to a predetermined standard mix, andpouring concrete ofa'predetermined standard Vmix around the main portionof said cor-e.

2. The method of constructing pipe, consisting in building a skeleton.having a glass or vitrified pipe lining, placing metal reinforcingaround said skeleton, pouring a sloppy plastic mix under and partlyaround said reinforcing and said skeleton, adding cement and sand tosaid sloppy plastic mix until said mix is brought up substantially to astandard mix, and encasing remaining portions of said reinforcing andskeleton with concrete of substantially the standard mix.

3. A method of constructing pipe, consisting in building a skeletonlength, placing said skeleton length in a trench yand spaced` apart fromthe bottom thereof, pouring a sloppy plastic mix into said trench andunder said skeleton length, bringing said plastlc mix up topredetermined standard consistency by adding comparatively dry concreteingredients to said plastic mix .after it is so poured, and completingsaid pipe by pouring a plastic mix of substantially standard proportionsof ingredients around the remaining portion of the skeleton.

4. Amethod of constructing pipe, consisting in placing a skeleton,placing a Wire mesh reinforcing around said skeleton, forming alongitudinal joint in said Wire mesh reinforcing by bringing tWo endsthereof together in a position above said skeleton, turning the Wiremesh reinforcing around the skeleton until said joint comes to thebottom,

pouring a sloppy mix of concrete under said skeleton, poking said sloppymix of concrete into the interstices of said Wire mesh reinforcing andsaid skeleton, changing the composition. of said sloppy mix of concreteto substantially a. predetermined standard.' composition by vaddingcomparatively dry concrete ingredients to said plastic miX of concreteafter the latter is so poured, and completing the pipe by pouringplastic concrete of substantially predetermined standard compositionaround the remaining portions of said skeleton and said Wire meshreinforcing.

5. A system for constructing pipe, consisting in placing a vitriliedclay or glass lining' in a desired position, pouring plastic concretehaving a high Water-ratio partially around said lining, changing thecomposition of said plastic concrete by adding com- 40 paratively dryconcrete ingredients thereto, thus reducing the Water-ratio tosubstantially a predetermined amount, and completing the pipe by pouringplastic concrete of substantially standard composition around remain-.:15 ing portions of said lining.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name hereto.

THOMAS DE LA MARE.

